Predominately Catholic Portugal will become the sixth Europoean nation to pass legislation giving gay and lesbian couples to marry.

“This law rights a wrong,” the prime minister, Jose Socrates, said in a speech to politicians, adding that it “simply ends pointless suffering”.

Socrates said the measure was part of his effort to modernise Portugal, where homosexuality was a crime until 1982. Two years ago his government lifted Portugal’s ban on abortion, despite church opposition.

Gay marriage is currently permitted in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Norway. Canada, South Africa and six US states also permit it.

The bill removes a reference in the current law to marriage being between two people of different sexes.

“It’s a slight change to the law, it’s true,” said Socrates. “But it is a very important and symbolic step towards fully ensuring respect for values that are essential in any democratic, open and tolerant society: the values of freedom, equality and non-discrimination.”

Read more in the Guardian.

BBC News reports that  British Prime Minister is pushing for civl partnerships for gay and lesbian couples across the entire European Union:

The prime minister said Britain was negotiating deals with France and Spain but wanted to “go further than that”.

He told [Altitude Magazine] it was important to show “respect for gay people was due” in “Eastern Europe as well as Western Europe”.

But he predicted it would take “many years” for this to happen.

Campaigners have been pushing for people who have undergone a civil partnership to be granted the same legal status and rights they enjoy in the UK in every other EU country.

A lack of legal recognition can affect issues such as immigration and pension rights.

Read more at BBC News.

The Associated Press reports that Portugal is poised to become the sixth European nation to allow gay and lesbian couples to wed:

The law is almost certain to pass, as the center-left Socialist government has the support of all left-of-center parties, who together have a majority in Parliament. Right-of-center parties oppose the measure.

The proposal changes Portuguese law to remove references to marriage being between two people of different sexes, Cabinet Minister Pedro Silva Pereira told a news conference Thursday, adding the government will send its proposal to lawmakers for a debate, probably in January.

If approved by Parliament, the proposed law goes to Portugal’s conservative President Anibal Cavaco Silva, who can ratify or veto it. A veto can be overturned by Parliament.

If there is no presidential veto, the first gay marriage ceremonies could take place in April — a month before Pope Benedict XVI is due on a four-day official visit.

Gay marriage is currently permitted in five European countries — Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Norway.

In Portugal, an overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country, previous efforts to introduce gay marriage have run into strong resistance from religious groups and conservative lawmakers.

Learn more about the Portugal’s proposed gay marriage law at EuroNews.net.

A Representative in the Philippines is proposing legislation that would apply jail time and financial penalties against gay and lesbian couples:

Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., a former pastor and advocate against pornography, claims that while same-sex marriage is not allowed in the country, legislation is needed to punish those who attempt to enter into such marriages.

The bill labels gay marriage “highly immoral, scandalous, and detestable,” reports Filipino newspaper Business Insight Malaya.

Under the bill’s provisions, same-sex couples who attempt to marry would face 15 years in prison and be fined 150,000 Philippine pesos (approximately $3,200.)

Read more at Advocate.com.